When I purchased the car it was in July and during the warm weather no funny noises at all. When it got cold out I started noticing a slight "whirring" noise when started in the morning after a cold night. It was not super loud but you could hear it sitting in the car. It would go away after a couple of minutes of driving. Its coming from the timing chain cover area and not localized to one side or the other. Once the car is warmed up it never does it again that day. The noise is sort of like the sound a power steering pump makes when its low in fluid but its not that loud. No rattles, thumps etc. If it was warm at night then it doesn't do it at all.
The car has 97k on it. My question - is this normal? I guess I don't trust this thing yet...

Dave

 

if it is chain noise it is not normal, Perhaps you are mistaking the noise for oil pressure issues.

 

The oil pressure always comes up fast enough to turn the red light off right away and move the gauges to its "on" position. Yes I know that means it has at least 5 lbs pressure as thats what the switch trips at. And the sound is localized to the timing chain cover area. And only if it was a cold night and only on the initial startup of the day.



Dave

 

being a 97 at that miles, if the timing chain (issues) you see all over this site have not been fixed I suspect that is it. There prob is a TINY bit of play that you hear slapping and goes away. I had a Mini Copper that did that (same issues as the jags). If I were you I would stop driving it. I am sure other will chime in but I would put my money on that being the issue.

 

When was the last time you replaced the serpentine belt? It's both sides near tensioner covers which I'm think you mean the front primaries, not valve cover.

 

If you indeed feel it is the timing chains making the noise, I would not start the car, and push it or tow it to where you want it to be repaired.

You could have already cracked one of the hydraulic plastic chain tensioners, and it is just taking a little longer to build up pressure. If it splits, and the piston with slides breaks free, the valves on that head WILL all be bent, and possibly push holes in the pistons and cause damage to the bores.

......Pretty much the end of the world in the mechanic's Bible......Goodluck.....Mike

 

if it is a metal slapping or tapping sound I would say it is timing chain related. If it were a belt I would not think you would get that sound, that would be a squeal or chirp form a tensioner or pulley.

 

Yes the noise seems to be coming from the front timing chain cover not the valve covers. Its not metal to metal sounding and not a click or rattle.
I listened to every youtube video I could find of the tensioner related noises and its nothing like that at all. No slapping, clicks, rattles, chirps etc. Also if you rev the engine and then back off it doesn't make the slapping noises that happened with almost all the youtube videos.
Its more of a whirring sound just like a power steering pump low on fluid only not near as loud.
The serpentine belt looks good with no visible cracking or fraying. And it again it only does it on a cold start after a cold night.

Dave

 

The lower guides (primary chain) are plastic coated metal. If the plastic coating has 'flaked-off' then you might likely hear a slight metallic sound as the chains glide along the surface.

If the plastic primary tensioners have not been replaced by the metal 'ratcheting' style then the guide blade could be 'bouncing' and causing the sound.

The plastic body primaries use oil pressure ONLY to hold tension on the blade. The newer metal ones have a ratchet mechanism.

bob

 

I'm beginning to wonder if it could be the bearing in the spring loaded serpentine belt tensioner. If this was doing it the sound could seem like it comes from that area. The noise seems more from the upper area than down lower where the blades are.
I would think if it was coming from a tensioner blade with the plastic worn off the sound wouldn't go completely away once the car is warmed up.


Dave

 

Silly question chaps - is it possible to slacken off the front drive belt(s) and run the engine? That will eliminate the belt, tensioner, AC pump, steering pump, water pump, alternator etc. Obviously it can't be run for long because of the water pump - but probably long enough.

 

sure you could take off the serpentine belt and run it for a seconds.

 

Use a mechanic's stethoscope and listen to the various components as your engine is idling. You'll nail down the culprit by a process of elimination. Through the scope, good components sound harmonious and smooth while failing components sound like gravel rolling around inside a cement mixer. I bought one at Pep Boys for about $18 seven or eight years ago and it has become one of the most invaluable tools that I own. Through the years it has pinpointed a failing idler pulley assembly in my 1999 Dodge Ram pickup, a failing water pump in that same truck, and a failing HVAC compressor in my 2005 Jaguar S-Type. Money well spent....